TikTok’s Controversial Mugshot Challenge

The Brief: TikTokers have been posing for fake mugshots for the #MugshotChallenge, but some influencers have been called out for participating in this potentially insensitive trend.

DEEP DIVE

The TikTok Mugshot Challenge consists of people taking fake “mugshot” photos, often styling their hair and makeup to make it look like they’ve been crying, in a fight, or resisting arrest. At the time of writing, videos associated with the hashtags #MugshotChallenge and #Mugshot have been viewed over 285 million times on TikTok.

As this trend has gone viral, people have been criticizing it for making light of serious topics including violence and incarceration. While the videos don’t specifically refer to domestic violence, images of people with bruised and bloodied faces can potentially be triggering to survivors of domestic violence and abuse. People on social media also pointed out the insensitivity of many white TikTokers participating in this trend when mass incarceration and police brutality disproportionately affect people of color.

Beauty influencer and YouTuber James Charles became the subject of controversy after sharing his Mugshot Challenge TikTok video on Twitter, causing him to delete the video.

Controversy & Criticism

y’all b like “mugshot challenge 🤪” but ignore the mass incarceration rates in the us 😐

You know I had to have two nose surgeries due to domestic violence. My nose is still crooked. I am reminded of those moments every day. This is not a subject matter to take lightly. You should know better. You need to apologize to everyone. This is triggering and offensive.